Her condition means she has never been able to walk because of severe spasticity in her legs but the youngster, from The Warren, is hoping all that will change thanks to a recent operation.

Bella underwent a ‘selective dorsal rhizotomy’ – a complex procedure, not available in the UK, which involved removing the nerves in her spine that caused the stiffness in her legs – at the end of April.

Since then she has been learning how to walk with support from splints on her legs and a special walking frame and, on Saturday, went out to get her first pair of trainers.

Her mum Tracey said: “It’s a first for Bella as she normally has to wear special supportive shoes.

“She still needs support but this is coming from the new leg splints.

“Bella is doing well – she can just about walk with me holding her left hand.”

At the moment Bella is struggling to get both feet flat on the ground but she had another operation on Thursday to lengthen her right calf and hamstring.

The whole operation, including the trip out to the USA, is costing the Mays family around £40,000.